Current Position: Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (since June 2009)
Boss: Ellen Moran
Why He Matters
Strickling’s dual job as administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) got bigger with the passage of President Obama’s February 2009 economic stimulus measure.
The NTIA is charged with implementing the “Broadband Technology Opportunities Program” to expand broadband access and adoption across the U.S.
Path to Power
Strickling built a name for himself as a technology policy expert by serving
the industry for more than two decades both in public and private sectors. He joined
the Obama administration after serving as policy coordinator for for the 2008 Obama presidential campaign.
Before joining the campaign, Strickling worked as chief regulatory and chief compliance officer at Broadwing
Communications for three years.
His other private sector experience includes working for
Allegiance Telecom and CoreExpress, Inc. and serving as a member of the board of directors of
Network Plus.
FCC Tenure
In the public sector, Strickling served at the Federal Communications Commission as chief of the Common Carrier Bureau from 1998 to 2000. Prior to that, Strickling was associate
general counsel and chief of the FCC’s Competition Division.
During his tenure at the FCC, Strickling developed and enforced rules to foster competition and protect consumers in the telecommunications marketplace.
Prior to joining the FCC, Strickling was vice president for public policy at Ameritech.
Before Ameritech, he was a litigation partner at the Chicago law firm of Kirkland & Ellis.
At a Glance
Current Position: Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (since June 2009)
Career History: Chief Regulatory and Chief Compliance Officer at Broadwing Communications;
Member of the Board of Directors of Network Plus; Chief of the Common Carrier Bureau at the Federal Communications Commission; Associate General Counsel and Chief of the FCC’s Competition Division; Vice President, Public Policy at Ameritech; Ligitation partner at Chicago-based Kirkland & Ellis
Birthday: N/A
Hometown: N/A
Alma Mater:J.D. from Harvard Law School; Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Maryland, economic
Spouse: N/A
Religion: N/A
DC Office:
Herbert C. Hoover Building (HCHB)
U.S. Department of Commerce / NTIA
1401 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20230, (202) 482-2000
In His Own Words
“The growth of the Internet is due in part to the trust of its users – trust, for example, that when
they type a web site address, they will be directed to their intended website.”
Cheek, Michael, “Commerce and NIST Announce Deployment of Cyber Initiative,” The New New Internet, July 19, 2010
“Technology skills and Internet access are increasingly necessary to finding a job, but many
people don’t have the resources to go online.”
“Commerce Department’s NTIA Announces Recovery Act Investment to Expand Broadband Internet Access and Economic Opportunities in Illinois,” Acquired Media NewsEdge, July 30, 2010
The Issues
The NTIA implements the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program created by the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, or President Obama’s February 2009 economic stimulus.
The NTIA is also responsible for other communications-related activities, such as managing the
federal use of spectrum; performing cutting-edge telecommunications research and engineering,
including resolving technical telecommunications issues for the federal government and private sector; and administering grants for infrastructure and public telecommunications facilities.About NTIA, accessed Aug. 16, 2010(3)About NTIA, accessed Aug. 16, 2010
The NTIA consists of four offices and an institute:
–The Office of Spectrum Management develops and establishes plans and policies to ensure
appropriate use of the spectrum both in and outside the U.S.
–The Office of Policy Analysis and Development
supports the NTIA’s role as principal adviser to the executive branch and the secretary of commerce on telecommunications and information policies.
–The Office of International Affairs enhances U.S. companies’ ability to compete globally in the
information technology and communications sectors.
–The Institute for Telecommunications
Sciences is the research-and-development lab of NTIA and provides technical support to the agency by advancing IT infrastructure development and enhancing domestic competition.
Lastly, the Office of Telecommunications and Information Applications assists public and non-
profit entities to effectively use telecommunications and information technologies to better
provide public services.
In July 2010, a group of 40 prominent economists issued a statement calling for expanded
stimulus programs to reduce unemployment. They also challenged the view that the priority
should be reducing the deficit: “Making deficit reduction the first target, without addressing the
chronic underlying deficiency of demand, is exactly the error of the 1930s.”
The Network
At the Commerce Department, Strickling reports to Secretary Gary Locke. But regarding the expansion of broaband, he’ll be working closely with Obama FCC head and 2008 campaign veteran Julius Genachowski and his chief of staff, Eddie Lazarus.
Strickling served as the Board of Visitors at the University of Maryland School of Public Policy.
He served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the University of Chicago’s Court Theatre, and on the Board of Directors of Music of the Baroque in Chicago.
Campaign Contributions
As policy coordinator for Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, Strickling oversaw two dozen domestic
policy committees and was responsible for technology and telecommunications issues.